The 2021 Lexus LC 500 will serve as the Official Safety Car in Saturday’s return to racing for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at Daytona International Speedway. The brand’s flagship luxury coupe is set to lead the IMSA field to the green flag for the first time in nearly six months and will include a patriotic red, white and blue livery to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday.
“We’ve been eagerly waiting to get back to racing and we’re thrilled to have another Lexus performance model on track with the LC 500 luxury performance coupe leading the pack to the starting line on Saturday night,” said Jeff Bal, Lexus motorsports manager. “It’s an honor to have a leading role in IMSA’s return to racing, and the July 4th celebration at an iconic venue like Daytona.”
The 2021 LC 500 has received key refinements as the Lexus brand nears the debut of the all-new LC 500 Convertible in showrooms later this summer. The powerful naturally-aspirated 5.0-liter V8 with 471-horsepower and a 7,300 RPM redline is paired with a 10-speed Direct-Shift automatic transmission capable of shifting gears in 0.12 seconds, propelling the LC 500 from 0-to-60mph in 4.4 seconds. The updated 10-speed is a refinement to further evoke the performance of the V8 engine and provide an even more direct connection of driver to machine.
“Our passion for both style and performance is evident in both the LC 500 and the RC F GT3s run by AIM VASSER SULLIVAN,” added Bal. “Having the LC 500 serve as the official safety vehicle for the WeatherTech 240 at Daytona will certainly draw attention to the highly-capable performance coupe and also adds to the building excitement of this summer’s arrival of the all-new 2021 LC 500 convertible.”
The 2021 LC 500 also includes a high-performance package that is equipped with a carbon fiber roof and inner door panels which helps to reduce the center of gravity. The active rear-steering and speed-activated rear wing are also enhancements to the new model that provide optimal driving control.
Lexus and AIM VASSER SULLIVAN return to the track this weekend with two Lexus RC F GT3 cars competing in IMSA’s GTD class during Saturday’s sprint race. To follow all of the racing action this weekend, fans can follow Lexus Racing on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter by using #LexusRCF GT3, #LexusPerformance and #LexusRacing.